Canadian Army Pacific Force

[irish]

My only Canadian uniform at this time. Coming to me recently in a trade with a friend who found it in Hawaii, not sure how it made that trip. Dated Sep 1944 on the inside. The CAPF patch as one can see is multi Piece constructed. Is there significance to the green diamond shaped backing? The veteran had obviously seen some service prior to assignment with the PACF. I know from my reading that this was a short lived organization. All comments welcomed.

[Bill A]

Hi Irish, Nice tunic. The tunic tells a story, and here is some of the interpretation. The GS badge was issued to Canadian personnel serving in Canada (not overseas in the UK or Europe). GS= General Service which meant that he was a volunteer and not an NRMA man. (National Resources Mobilization Act personnel were conscripted not volunteers.) The red chevrons on the oppsite sleeve represented 3 years service. The RCA identified an unassigned (eg not part of a regiment) Royal Canadian Artillery soldier. The CAPF patches are homemade, and they are super-imposed on the Pacific Command patch. The sergeants chevrons are late war, and he has the field gun for gunner sgt. Last but not least the Canada nationality titles in worsted. This fellow, according to his insignia did not serve overseas, but was in the active army in Canada for several years and volunteered for the CAPF.

[Pylon1357]

Originally Posted by Bill A

Hi Irish, Nice tunic. The tunic tells a story, and here is some of the interpretation. The GS badge was issued to Canadian personnel serving in Canada (not overseas in the UK or Europe). GS= General Service which meant that he was a volunteer and not an NRMA man. (National Resources Mobilization Act personnel were conscripted not volunteers.) The red chevrons on the oppsite sleeve represented 3 years service. The RCA identified an unassigned (eg not part of a regiment) Royal Canadian Artillery soldier. The CAPF patches are homemade, and they are super-imposed on the Pacific Command patch. The sergeants chevrons are late war, and he has the field gun for gunner sgt. Last but not least the Canada nationality titles in worsted. This fellow, according to his insignia did not serve overseas, but was in the active army in Canada for several years and volunteered for the CAPF.

Bill, great write up and interpretation of this tunic. You never cease to amaze me.

[irish]

Thank You Bill for that clear and concise description. Where would an individual have served within Canada during the war and in particular with an artillery specialty?

What determined who went overseas and who stayed within Canada for the war? Or was the fact that he volunteered the only reason?

I realize these questions are a bit broad and general but wondered if this person may have been older? Or possibly an instructor?

Best
Jack

[Bill A]

Hi Jack, With the Pacific Command patch, this fellow was likely serving with some artillery establishment in British Columbia or Alberta. It could have been a Headquarters or some sort of artillery support or training establishment.
A couple of factors impacted who was sent overseas. Until late 1944 only volunteers could serve overseas, NRMA men were restricted to active service in Canada. If the fellow was General Service, as this fellow was, he could be sent overseas or held in Canada either in an active service unit or in a training role. Despite the need for infantry reinforcements, there was not a great demand for artillery reinforcements.
The criteria for the CAPF volunteers were fairly strict as far as age and fitness went, so it is not likely this fellow was older.
Hope this helps.

[edstorey]

Just to add to what Bill has already written, the hard fact is that not everyone in the Army can serve overseas. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, there has to be someone back in Canada to fill training, administrative and home defense positions. As we see, the owner of this BD blouse had just that luck, although from the formation badges that had the war continued he was ready to have a go at the Japanese.

[Infanteer]

Great looking BD that I would be happy to have in my collection. Good find.

[irish]

Thanks to everyone for their help and comments on this uniform. Have looked everywhere to find a name in it but no luck as of yet. For my one and only Canadian uniform I am pleased.

Jack

[Phillip Herring]

I'm wondering if this could have been worn by members of 15 Coast Regiment RCA.

Phil

[Bill A]

That is certainly a possibility. Archive docs indicate that certain RCA regiments wore only the generic corps title.

[irish]

In reading a bit on the 15th Coast Regiment it appears that most of the CA forts in their zone were reduced to maintenance staff by late 1944. Gunners were being reassigned to other duties. So this individual could have been pro active and volunteered for the CAPF, rather than risk a less than desirable reassignment.

[edstorey]

I think there is one problem with that hypothesis, the CAFP was not formed until mid-1945.

[Bill A]

The CAPF did not start actively recruiting until after VE Day, sometime in mid-May 1945. Many personnel in the Active army in Canada volunteered for the CAPF for many different reasons. It would be difficult to attribute much to this soldier without accessing his service file. Even then, it would be subject to a lot of interpretation.

[irish]

Originally Posted by edstorey

I think there is one problem with that hypothesis, the CAFP was not formed until mid-1945.

Good point, that leaves quit a gap time wise.